Headlight-controlling mechanism for automobiles



R. C. HAKE AND A. V. VISSATA.

HEADLIGH CONTROLLING MECHANISM Foa AuToMosLEs.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 6,1917.

Patented Feb. 24, 1920.

' UNITED s'rATEs rATENT onnion.

RICHARD C. I-IAKE AND ANTHONY V. VISSATA, ST; LOIS, MISSOURI.

YHEnnnren'r-coN'rnoLLINer MECHANISM Fon. AUTOMOBILES. l i

Specifieatin of Letters Patent.

` Patented Feb.24,192o.

Application med March e, 1917. serieu No. 152,844.

Tocll whom t may conce/11n.' y Y Be it known that We,'RIoHARD C. HAKEand ANTHONY V. Vissa'rA, bothcitizens of the United States, and residingat St. Louis, in the State of Missouri,- have invented a certain new and-usefulm Improvement 'in Headlight-Controlling Mechanism forAutomobiles, of which the following is a speciication.

This invention relates to headlight controlling mechanism forautomobiles, `which is adapted to direct the rays in the direction inwhich the automobile is turned by the steering mechanism.

One of the objects of this invention is to construct mechanism which canbe readily applied to an existing automobile,l which will-be firmlysupported, so as to avoid lost motion and inaccuracy of operation, andwhich will be reliable. Y

Another object is to provide mechanism which is simple in constructionand operation, and cheap to manufacture.

Further objects will appear from the detail description taken inconnection' with the accompanying drawing, in which;

Figure 1 is a plan of a part of an automobile, showing the headlightcontrolling mechanism embodying this invention; j

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlargedy section onk the line 3-3, Fig. 2; and,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail perspective view.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, 1 designates the side frames ofthe chassis, which carry the radiator 2, and are connected by across-beam 3 supported by springs t on the front axle 5. This front axlecarries road wheels 6 provided with steering knuckles 7, connectedby asteerino' rod 8, which in turn is connected Vby a link 9 to the steeringwheel. A pair of fender supporting brackets 10 are bolted to the chassisside frames 1, to support the front ends or' the fenders. These bracketsare flattened near their points of attachment to the chassis side framesto form eyes, 11, and these eyes are formed to provide shoulders 12, onone sidey of the perforation in the yA pair of headlight supportscomprising each, a body 13 having a shank 14 adapted to enter the eyewith the body at the bend resting atfthe shoulder 12. The shank 14: isthreaded toreceive a. nut 15 which clamps the support-in position.This'support extendsforwardly from the" fenderV bracket and-'isprovidedat its forward end witha bearing 16, -adaptedft'o receive theshank 17 of the headlightlS, the shank being provided with'a fixedcollar 19, and with a nut 20, so as to sustain the headlight for.oscil-y lating'movement on the support.

Threaded vinto the lower end, of ,each shank 17 is an arm 21, which hasan eye 22 loosely engaging an arm 28, mounted on a reduced portion 24 ofan actuator rod 25, arranged parallel .with the steering' rod 8, andmounted for endwise sliding movement in brackets 26, attached to theunderside of the chassis side frames 1. A nut 27 maintains the arm 23against endwise moveeled connection with the link 30, swiveledV to ablock 31, clamped on the steering rod 8.

It will thus be seen thatl as the steering rod is moved to move the roadwheels, the connections to the headlights will move these headlights inunison with the/wheels, the connections heilig made in such a manner vasto direct the rays from the headlights in the direction in which theautomobile is turned, so as to illuminate the road in the path to betraversed by the automobile. l

The connections from the actuator rod to the headlights, and theconnections from the steering rod to the actuator rod, are soconstructed as to avoid lost motion, but at the same time, make theseconnections flexible, so that they will not bend nor be placed understrain on account of the movement between the chassis and the runninggear. It will further be seen that the arrangement of the connections issuch as to permit adjustment of the headlights to proper alinement. Theycan be adjusted concurrently by sliding the block 31 on the rod 8; theycan be adjusted independently by independently turning the rod sections25, and then lockframes of the chassis. 'It will, furthermore,

be noted that the mechanism is so con structed as to permit-.its readyapplication to existing automobiles, Without requiring alteration. f cIt isobviousthat-various changes may be 'made in the details ofconstruction without departing from the spirit of this invention. It is,therefore, toV be understood that this invention is not to be limitedtothe specific I construction shown and described.

This isV accomplishedV Having` thus described the invention Whatis'claimedis:f Y v In anv automobile having a chassis, a steering rodand a pair of headlights mounted for oscillation onthe chassis,headlight controlling mechanism comprising a connecting head adjustablyconnected-with the steering rod, rods having independently adjustableyjoining 'connections directly with said Vhead and guided for movementon the chassis, and

connections between the other ends of said rods and the headlights. s c

In testimony whereof We affix .our signatures this lstday of January,1917.

c y RICHARD CHAKE. 4

vANTHONY v. vissATA.

